Water Facts

  • In 2009, Mesa residents used 29 billion gallons of water.
  • Mesa provided water to more than 458,000 people.
  • The service area is 128 square miles. The 2008 high demand day was 126 million gallons per day, and in 2009 it was 118.  The average daily demand is 86 million gallons per day.
  • In Mesa, each person uses about 180 gallons each day at home.
  • City reservoirs have a combined storage of 92 million gallons.
  • Water is delivered to customers through more than 2,200 miles of water main.  
  • About 90 percent of the water used by Mesa comes from surface water sources, the Salt River Project Canal System and the Central Arizona Project Canal.
  • The surface water is treated at two water treatment plants with a combined capacity of 162 million gallons per day.
  • 10 percent of water comes from 38 ground water wells.
  • The wells are between 800 and 1,000 feet deep.
  • Mesa fluoridates the water at a level of 0.75 parts per million. 

Water Words

  • Collection system:  Commonly called the sewer.  It is the pipeline system that collects wastewater from throughout the system and transports it to the wastewater treatment plants.
  • Distribution system:  Distributes water to the homes and businesses.  
  • Industrial Wastewater:  Wastewater from an industry.  The water may require a permit and treatment by the industry prior to putting the wastewater into the collection system.    
  • Raw water:  Water prior to any type of treatment.
  • Storm water system:  Rain water runs into the storm water system.  In Mesa the storm water is separate from the wastewater  collection system. 
  • Treated water:  Drinking water that meets quality standards.
  • Wastewater:  A combination of domestic and industrial water that flows from drains and toilets.